Efeito de extrato de algas no enraizamento de estaca de pitaia

In Brazil, pitaya has assumed relevant marketing status as a result of the fruit high demand and the low national production. However, pitaya cultivation needs technical studies. Thus, the present work aimed to evaluate the effect of algae extract and indolbutyric acid (IBA) on rooting of pitaya cuttings from species Hylocereus undatus and Hylocereus polyrhizus. Pitaya cuttings were treated with IBA, algae extract, the combination of IBA and algae extract, and the control. For H. undatus the best responses for root number, volume and mass were obtained from cuttings treated with algae extract and the combination of IBA and algae extract. For H. polyrhizus, the best responses for number of shoots, volume and root mass were obtained in cuttings treated with IBA, algae extract and the combination of IBA and algae extract. The algae extract (SprintAlga TS®) is promising as an alternative or complement to IBA.No Brasil a pitaia tem assumido status mercadológico relevante, visto a alta demanda da fruta e a reduzida produção nacional. Contudo, a cultura da pitaia carece de estudos técnicos. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito de extrato de algas e do ácido Indolbutírico (AIB) no enraizamento e na brotação de estacas das espécies de pitaia Hylocereus undatus e Hylocereus polyrhizus. Estacas de pitaia foram tratadas com AIB, extrato de algas, combinação de AIB e extrato de algas, e a testemunha. Para H. undatus as melhores respostas de número, volume e massa de raízes foram obtidas em estacas tratadas com o extrato de algas e com a combinação de AIB e extrato de alga. Para H. polyrhizus as melhores respostas para número de brotações, volume e massa de raízes foram obtidas em estacas tratadas com o extrato de algas, com AIB e com a combinação de AIB e extrato de alga. O extrato de algas SprintAlga TS® se mostrou promissor como alternativa ou complemento ao AIB

Impact of Oxysterols on Cell Death, Proliferation, and Differentiation Induction: Current Status

Oxysterols are oxidized derivatives of cholesterol produced by enzymatic activity or non-enzymatic pathways (auto-oxidation). The oxidation processes lead to the synthesis of about 60 different oxysterols. Several oxysterols have physiological, pathophysiological, and pharmacological activities. The effects of oxysterols on cell death processes, especially apoptosis, autophagy, necrosis, and oxiapoptophagy, as well as their action on cell proliferation, are reviewed here. These effects, also observed in several cancer cell lines, could potentially be useful in cancer treatment. The effects of oxysterols on cell differentiation are also described. Among them, the properties of stimulating the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells while inhibiting adipogenic differentiation may be useful in regenerative medicine

Effects of Oxysterols on Immune Cells and Related Diseases

Oxysterols are the products of cholesterol oxidation. They have a wide range of effects on several cells, organs, and systems in the body. Oxysterols also have an influence on the physiology of the immune system, from immune cell maturation and migration to innate and humoral immune responses. In this regard, oxysterols have been involved in several diseases that have an immune component, from autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases to inflammatory diseases, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Here, we review data on the participation of oxysterols, mainly 25-hydroxycholesterol and 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol, in the immune system and related diseases. The effects of these oxysterols and main oxysterol receptors, LXR and EBI2, in cells of the immune system (B cells, T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes), and in immune-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, intestinal diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, and atherosclerosis, are discussed

Increase in biofilm formation by Escherichia coli under conditions that mimic the mastitic mammary gland

Bacterial biofilms are involved in the aggravation and recurrence of clinical mastitis in dairy herds. Several factors such as pH, temperature, concentration of O2 and glucose can affect their induction and growth rates. In this study, biofilm production was demonstrated by 27 Escherichia coli strains isolated from bovine mastitis at different pH values depending on the availability of glucose, mimicking conditions found in mammary glands affected by the disease. Biofilm formation was analyzed by spectrophotometric analysis in microtiter plate with 16 different culture media and by scanning electron microscopy. Biofilm formation was greater in isolates cultured under conditions associated with low glucose availability (0.5% or 1.5%) and with either an acidic (5.5) or alkaline (8.5) pH, compared to conditions associated with high glucose availability (2.5% or 3.5%) and near-neutral pH (6.5 or 7.5). Results indicate possible favoring of biofilm production in the later stages of the infectious process caused by E. coli, when the gland environment is less propitious to bacterial growth due to the stress conditions mentioned above; contrasting with the environment of the healthy mammary gland, in which there is no limitation on nutrients or conditions of particular alkalinity or acidity. Thus, knowledge of the stage in which is the infection and environmental conditions of the mammary gland that cause increased production of biofilms is of paramount importance to guide the most appropriate control strategies to prevent relapse after treatment of bovine mastitis, an economically important disease in dairy cattle worldwide

Perfil Socioeconômico e Expectativas Profissionais de Alunos de Curso Técnico em Saúde Bucal

Objetivo: Caracterizar o perfil socioeconômico e expectativas profissionais de alunos de Auxiliar em Saúde Bucal (ASB) e Técnico em Saúde Bucal (TSB) de Campina Grande, PB. Materiais e Métodos: Pesquisa transversal, quantitativa e descritiva, sendo a amostra composta por 104 estudantes, dos quais 79 eram alunos do curso de ASB e 25 alunos do curso de TSB. A coleta de dados foi feita com um questionário, abordando o perfil profissional dos participantes, suas expectativas em relação ao mercado de trabalho e ao exercício profissional. Os dados foram analisados por meio da estatística descritiva. Resultados: Os estudantes são mulheres (96,2%), jovens (61,5%), solteiras (58,3%), com ensino médio concluído (88,5%) e renda familiar entre um e dois salários mínimos (41,2%). Afinidade com a área foi o motivo de ingresso para 42,3% dos alunos, 68% pretendem atuar como ASB ou TSB e 44,7% objetivam uma jornada de 40 horas semanais. A quase totalidade dos alunos (91,2%) tem conhecimento dos diversos riscos ocupacionais a que estarão expostos. Conclusão: Nos cursos de auxiliar e técnico em saúde bucal predominam as mulheres jovens, com baixa renda familiar, que pretendem atuar na profissão e estão cientes dos riscos ocupacionais aos quais estarão expostos

Ferroptosis Mechanisms Involved in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Ferroptosis is a type of cell death that was described less than a decade ago. It is caused by the excess of free intracellular iron that leads to lipid (hydro) peroxidation. Iron is essential as a redox metal in several physiological functions. The brain is one of the organs known to be affected by iron homeostatic balance disruption. Since the 1960s, increased concentration of iron in the central nervous system has been associated with oxidative stress, oxidation of proteins and lipids, and cell death. Here, we review the main mechanisms involved in the process of ferroptosis such as lipid peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase 4 enzyme activity, and iron metabolism. Moreover, the association of ferroptosis with the pathophysiology of some neurodegenerative diseases, namely Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases, has also been addressed

Commercial preslaughter blue light ambience for controlling broiler stress and meat qualities

The objective of this work was to study the effect of blue light diffuser on the broiler stress control by measuring the occurrence of PSE meat just before slaughtering. Birds were divided into the following two groups before slaughter at the point of being hung on shackles: broiler group under low intensity blue light ambience (475, 17-20 lx) and control group under white light (550-650nm, 321-332 lx). Birds' stressful conditions were measured by the occurrence of PSE meat. Breast fillets were classified as PSE meat based on pH (<5.8) and lightness (L*&gt; 53.0). The fillet samples in the control group had the following characteristics: pHu=5.77, L* = 54.26 and b*= 6.27. The fillet samples from birds under blue light ambience had the following characteristics: pHu=5.81, L* = 52.86 and b* = 5.22 (p < 0.05). These results revealed that the treatment of blue light ambience just before slaughtering contributed to the alleviation of ante mortem stress of the birds, which was observed by a 14% decrease in the occurrence of PSE meat. Exposure to blue light just before slaughtering was shown to have potential to be used in modern slaughterhouses to offer a comfortable atmosphere, thereby maintaining breast meat quality